Draft Grade: Oakland Raiders
Notable Picks
5th Overall: OLB Khalil Mack (Buffalo)
During the offseason, Oakland brought in free agent linebacker LaMarr Woodley from the Steelers, and they added another adept pass rusher in this year’s draft with Khalil Mack. Playing for Buffalo, Mack was dominant in 2013, recording 10.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Some analysts even had him ranked over Jadeveon Clowney.
It will be interesting to see how much of Mack’s production carries over to the NFL, given his weak level of competition playing on the fringe of Division I football in the Mid-American Conference.
36th Overall: QB Derek Carr (Fresno State)
Scouts and analysts often take bloodlines into account when sizing up NFL prospects, and it would be hard to find a player with worse relations than Derek Carr. His brother David was the 1st overall selection in 2002, and the first player ever selected by the Houston Texans, then a new franchise, and he turned out to be a massive bust.
Carr offers good value for a 2nd round QB with his pocket mobility and strong arm, and the Raiders are in dire need of competition at the quarterback position with the newly-acquired aging starter Matt Schuab in rapid decline. Unfortunately, Carr has perhaps the worst problem a quarterback can have: he cannot handle the pass rush, often throwing rushed and terribly inaccurate passes when defenders get in his face. If that trait is not coached out of him, this will be another Carr that never works out.
81st Overall: OG Gabe Jackson (Mississippi State)
The Raiders have holes all over their roster, but the offensive line is a particularly glaring area of need. Jackson’s mix of strength and balance will allow him to contribute immediately in both run blocking and pass protection.
116th Overall: CB Keith McGill (Utah)
Last year’s first round pick by the Raiders CB D.J. Hayden was plagued by injuries in his rookie season for Oakland, and even when he was on the field his play didn’t impress. The 6’ 3” McGill will add some healthy competition, and with his height (Hayden is just 5’ 11”) he is better suited to cover the NFL’s new trend of lanky receivers, who seem to get taller and taller every year.
Final Grade: B
The Raider’s bucked historical trends by actually having a solid draft this year. Mack is a stud, and guys like Jackson and McGill should be able to immediately compete for and probably win starting jobs.
It is disappointing; however, that Oakland failed to address their dearth of quality at the wide receiver position. Former Packers third-string receiver James Jones looks to be the best of the bunch, ahead of guys who are average on their best day like Denarius Moore and Rod Streater. Schuab and Carr have their work cut out for them.
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